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G7 on a Post-it Note

A guide to getting repeatable color matches on press, everyday

The G7 methodology has been critisized as being 'too complicated'.

It is not.

Here is a very nice summary of the process that was orignially published by Glenn Andrews of Schawk in Los Angeles. (with a couple of small changes of mine).

1. Use good paper and good ink.

2. Have the press in good running condition.3. Include color bars with solids, overprints, a 50%C 40%M 40%Y neutral and a 50% or 53% midtone K patch.4. Run to industry-standard solid ink densities.5. Mid-tone density must be 0.54 plus the density of the paper.6. 50%C 40%M 40%Y neutral must be exactly the same color and value as the mid-tone K.

A press sheet run to these specificationswill match a good proof.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

My approach to G7 on a Post-it Note

Earlier this week I was posting a few thoughts at Adam Dewitz's PrintCEOblog (www.printCEOblog.com) I was explaining my thinking behind the simplified press color bar that I use when doing color ok's for clients here in China. Few printers here run control bars. I'm sure that 1/4" of paper at the tail-end of the sheet is their profit margin. In any case, most are 'eyeballing' the sheet to the proof. They don't do a bad job, but they are making the assumption that the proof represents the file and that the press can actually print what's on the proof.

When I'm 'shepherding' books through the manufacturing process, I first check their proofs for compliance with the ISO standard by insisting that they make me a proof of the Idealliance proofing bar. I check it with my EyeOne. I like to see the proof as close as possible to a Delta E of 1.0. If they are making good proofs, we're half-way home!. I then have them proof the job and send it to my client for his approval.

When we're ready to print, I ask them to include my press control bar on the forms. I also ask them to make a proof the color bar. I ask the press operator to begin by matching the color bar on the sheet to the color bar proof. This way I know that the press is printing a good gray balance and that the tone reproduction is correct.

After the bar looks good on the presssheet, we can start fine-tuning the images, but typically there is very little adjustment that needs to be made to match the proof.

In using this simplified technique on press, I have to make the assumption that the inks are close to ISO requirements. I'm not in a situation where I can tell them to change ink if they are 'off' a bit. The inks being used in most printing plants are so close to 'standard' that any differences will be very minor. As a matter of fact, in checking through a stack of sample press sheets that I've run this past year, all of the ink sets are within the ISO tolerance.

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What is a G7® Expert Consultant

GRACoL Expert Consultants are industry trainers and consultants who have completed an IDEAlliance certification program and are identified to be an elite group of professionals who are expert in the new GRACoL press calibration process.

What is a G7 Master?

The IDEAlliance G7 Master Program is a qualification program that identifies those creatives, premedia and printing companies who have been trained to proof or print to G7 Neutral Print Density Curves and can meet print buyer requirements to produce proofs or printed output conforming to the metrics that reliably render brand images across print locations and different printing types.. The qualification mark means that the printer uses the modern technology based on colorimetry, and employ G7 process controls. G7 Masters bear the IDEAlliance seal of approval. Attaining G7 Master status is a competitive goal for those providing creative, premedia and printing services, worldwide.

How Can G7 Experts Help My Company to Become a G7 Master?

To become a G7 Master your shop must be qualified by an IDEAlliance G7 Expert Consultant. These are color management professionals who have been trained in hands-on sessions and are certified by IDEAlliance to teach G7 techniques. G7 Expert Consultants are uniquely qualified to train printers, creatives and prepress houses in the G7 Method and are authorized to act as the qualification agents for IDEAlliance G7 Masters. Each G7 Expert consultant has their own consulting practice and determines their own pricing and engagement methodology.